3 Tips to Determine What is “Normal” with In-Utero Kicking and Pain

It’s easy to get freaked out when you experience pain from your baby’s in-utero kicks, but is this type of discomfort normal? Read on to learn about in-utero kicking and pain and find out!

Let’s think about the word “normal” for a minute when it comes to pregnancy. This past weekend, I was picking up bagels for my family and saw a lady in line – trendy workout clothes, beautiful hair, and one of those baby bumps that literally looked stuck on to the front of her (not a small one, either – I’d venture to guess she was 7 months along). That’s a completely different picture from the one of a friend who experienced such violent morning sickness with her pregnancies that she could barely get off the bathroom floor. Which of those is a “normal” pregnancy? You guessed it – they both are.

What is Normal When it Comes to In-Utero Kicking and Pain?

Pregnancy is one of those crazy things where “normal” varies significantly not just from one person to another, but also from one pregnancy to another. My pregnancies were markedly different from each other. With this wide range of “normal,” it’s tricky to categorize what level of in-utero kicking and pain is okay and what is not. But let’s try!

One of our readers wrote in recently asking us whether or not it is normal to have abdominal and back pain that disappears quickly when the baby is kicking. Please note, I am not a medical professional, and I always encourage you to discuss concerns with your doctor. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you deal with kicking and resulting pain during pregnancy.

1. Kicking goes with the territory. There’s nothing like feeling that first kick (usually around 16-22 weeks) and feeling the connection with your baby. Even after that first kick, you may not feel one every day; your baby is still tiny and those movements have to be BIG in order for you to feel them. As your baby grows, you will feel kicks and movements more frequently and with increasing intensity. During the third trimester, your OBGYN may have you do a “kick count” to make sure everything’s okay in there.

2. Is the pain truly only when the baby kicks?If you are experiencing sharp pains during pregnancy, it’s important not to brush them off. If the pains are truly experienced only when the baby kicks, it is likely that it’s nothing to worry about. If the pain happens at other times, too, it is even more critical that you visit your doctor. Here’s a great article that gives more detail about what pain you shouldn’t ignore.

3. Pain and discomfort during fetal movements may increase later in pregnancy. For the last couple months of my pregnancy with my daughter, she liked to shove her foot underneath my ribcage. It was terrible, and the only way I could relieve the discomfort was to arch my back and create as much space as possible. The bigger your baby gets, the less room there is, and his or her movement shouldn’t decrease. Your uterus is now taking up more space in your abdominal cavity and movements have a greater chance of colliding with other organs – possibly causing you pain and discomfort.

To answer our reader’s question, it may be normal to have sudden abdominal and/or back pain while your baby is kicking, or it may not. Any concerns should be discussed immediately with your doctor, as you wouldn’t want any bigger problems to be overlooked. Likely everything is just fine and those nagging pains will go away once your bundle of joy makes his or her entrance to the world!

Did you experience any pain with in-utero kicking? Share your thoughts and tips below!

About Kate Curran

Kate Curran is a native Midwesterner and lives outside of Chicago. She is the proud mama of two feisty, funny, and kind kiddos who give her constant inspiration (and lots of hugs), not to mention two 4-legged kids. In between working in a corporate job and spending time with her family, Kate loves to write. Her favorite topics include the things she experiences every day – parenting both kids and dogs, saving money, and loving life!